This week’s edition of The Newtown Bee looks forward to a couple of important activities in town — Halloween and Election Day.

Read on to not only learn all you ever wanted to know about one of nature’s more terrifying, yet beneficial and misunderstood critters — the bat. Our reporter Alissa Silber has not only been developing the journalistic talent of recapping important local meetings like the Planning & Zoning Commission, Inland Wetlands panel, and Conservation Commission — but has also been our community go-to on environmental news.

She also spent a busy weekend working around town including recapping the SHOP Halloween Walk, and providing today’s front page cover photo portending all the haunting, tricks, and treats yet to come.

We’re also providing you with important information about Halloween fire safety; information about helping your loved ones grappling with dementia not be startled or upset by seasonal activities leading up to and through October 31; and with all the tempting treats that will be more available in the coming days, important tips for parents and caregivers if your child — or one you love — has food allergies.

We are also reporting on why you may see less of some of our local police officers’ faces around in the coming month. Not because they are going away for some sort of remote training regimen, but because they are growing beards in support of the Connecticut Cancer Foundation during “No Shave November.”

There are also a couple of advisories amongst our pages about charity fraud and scams related to the recent announced increase in Social Security disbursements. According to our advisory, local residents are already receiving calls from unscrupulous characters claiming to represent the Social Security Administration, and seeking important personal information such as bank account numbers or simply saying they are verifying your Social Security number ahead of you receiving your promised 8.7% increase next year.

And then there are letters. Lots of letters primarily focusing on politics and particularly on the local ballot question regarding the Charter Revision and a proposal to eliminate the Board of Finance. As The Newtown Bee did with its informational webcast and related coverage over the past couple of weeks, this week we are previewing advocacy from many current and former elected officials, who are mostly and personally expressing why they oppose the proposal.

And as Election Day draws near, it is important to note — and for us to reiterate — our policy of not publishing any letters the week before elections (our November 4 edition) that make statements or accusations that cannot be addressed or rebutted before the following edition after Election Day. And while we have been a bit more flexible up until this edition to promote civic engagement and discourse, we will require all Letter Hive submissions for the November 4 edition involving appropriate political endorsements to be limited to 300 words or less.

In closing, The Newtown Bee will not be rendering endorsements ahead of this Election Day, except to strongly urge everyone who is still eligible to register to vote, and all who are registered to respond to the polls or the absentee ballot box and participate in this vitally important annual rite.